Dirt receptacle

ABSTRACT

A receptacle usable with a vacuum cleaner, for receiving and accumulating dirt and other refuse, from which receptacle such dirt and refuse can be rapidly and substantially completely emptied on desired occasions. This is made possible by the utilization in accordance with this invention of a bottom wall possessing a desirable amount of angularity, and the advantageous placement of a hinged door adjacent such bottom wall. Upon this door being opened, dirt accumulated upon the bottom wall and door is quickly emptied from the receptacle under the influence of gravity.

United States Patentv 1191 Selley et al. I

[ DIRT RECEPTACLE [75] Inventors: Wilbur Webb Selley, Maitland;

Richard H. Schaffer, Orlando, both of Fla.

[73] Assignee: Bison Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Orlando, Fla.

22 Filed: 061. 22, 1970 1211 Appl. No.2 83,179

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 738,595, June 20, 1968, Pat. No.

52 us. 220/326, 15/257 A, 220/1 T, 220/335 1511 1111.01 ..B65d 43/16 [58] Field of Search 220/35, 18, 24 L36, 1 T, 220/55 R; 206/19, 5 D; 232/431, 43.4;

15/257 R, 257 A, 257 B, 257.1, 257.3, 257.6,

Seyfferth 220/1 T UX 1 Jan. 7, 1975 Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Julian C. Renfro [57] ABSTRACT A receptacle usable with a vacuum cleaner, for receiving and accumulating dirt and other refuse, from which receptacle such dirt and refuse can be rapidly and substantially completely emptied on desired occasions. This is made possible by the utilization in accordance with this invention of a bottom wall possessing a desirable amount of angularity, and the advantageous placement of a hinged door adjacent such bottom wall. Upon this door being opened, dirt accumulated upon thebottom wall and door is quickly emptied from the receptacle under the influence of gravity.

4 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures 3', 858 749 PATENTEDJAN SHEET NF 7 PATENTED JAN 7 I975 SHEET 2 [IF 7 PATENTEU 7|975 3,858,749

SHEET 4- UF 7 FIG. 5A

PATENTED JAN 7 I975 SHEET 5 OF 7 FIG. 6

PATENTED 3,858,749

SHEET 7 OF 7' DIRT RECEPTACLE This application is a division of application Ser. No. 738,595, filed June 20, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,608,333.

This invention relates to an improved vacuum cleaner of a multipurpose type, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner having .a particularly powerful powerplant and no-slip drive arrangement as well as improved coupling devices simplifying installation and removal of the nozzle assembly and dirt receptacle, as well as other improvements including simplified bag dumping means, easily removable handle, permanent power takeoff means, and variable position lamp for all-purpose illumination.

In the past, a number of different types of vacuum cleaners have been proposed, and while many housewives have been relatively satisfied with tank-type and hassock-type vacuum cleaners, the universal favorite remains the upright. It is for that reason that the primary version of this device is built around upright vacuum cleaner principles, although as pointed out earlier, it is easily converted into a number of other appliances.

The typical upright vacuum cleaner has had many advantages as well as disadvantages. Machines of this type have characteristically utilized a high-speed rotary brush in their head or nozzle assembly, which brush serves to vibrate the carpet as well as to sweep particles residing on the carpet into such position that they can readily be picked up by the vacuum. Also the upright vacuum cleaner in typically ready for instant use without it being necessary to attach or uncoil hoses and other related devices, and further the handle typically employed by these machines enables the user to push the principal or motor portion of the device in a very precise manner, without any bending or stooping being involved. Because the electric motor is closely adjacent the pick-up nozzle, a ready supply of electric power in When the user wishes to remove the head or power available so that an electric light supplying ample illumination can be provided.

However, the prior art upright type vacuum cleaner has had certain disadvantages, and the wheeled motor portion has at times been difficult to move over the floor, particularly if a sideways motion was desirable for cleaning some areas. Also, the bag has characteristically been more difficult to empty than in a tank-type machine, and the rotary brush has necessitated various belt-drive arrangements, most if not all of which have been unsatisfactory. For example, it has been found that from 13 to 20 percent slippage of the belt is not at all uncommon and such slippage necessarily creates friction and in turn heat, which of course has a deleterious effect on belts. When a belt does break, it is frequently necessary to remove the rotary brush and to install a new belt of the proper size and configuration in order to make the machine operative again.

As a further point, the bristles of the rotary brush must be relatively soft and therefore somewhat ineffective. If this rule is not followed, the additional power required to drive the rotary brush creates additional slippage and of course markedly decreases belt life.

Even when the belt remains intact, it frequently causes a great deal of annoyance to the user. If the vacuum cleaner is of a type having a removable head or nozzle portion, it is necessary to utilize a belt lifter in order to temporarily remove the belt from contact with the motor driven shaft used for driving the belt, and the user must of course remember to manipulate the belt nozzle, he or she need only step upon a small lever which causes an elastomeric ring to release the nozzle or head portion from the wheeled motor portion, with the drive means for the brush being automatically disengaged when the nozzle or head is separated from the main portion of the device. A similar elastomeric ring is utilized in the mounting ofthe dirt receptacle, which of course means that it may be removed from the machine in a similar simplified manner. If it is merely desirable to empty the bag, it is only necessary to wheel the machine onto a newspaper or the like, with pressure of the toe being sufficient to cause a dumping of the contents of the bag. No compound motions of any component of the dirt receptacle is necessary.

If the user wishes to remove the handle of the machine, such as for example to convert it to a portable unit, it is not necessary to slide any pins or unscrew any screws. Rather, it is only necessary to raise the handle to the upright position and then continue pushing it forward in order tobring about a separation of the handle from the wheeled motor unit.

Another of the difficulties normally encountered in upright vacuum cleaners is the limitation that it can be moved only forward or backward, and never in oblique or sideways manner. We preferably utilize a tail-wheel movable in virtually a 360 manner, thus enabling the wheeled motor portion to be moved easily in whatever sideways motion may be desirable.

Another significant feature of this invention involves the use of a particularly satisfactory headlight arrangement that can be maintained in a normal or retracted position at such time as the machine is to be used under the edges of dressers or other pieces of furniture, but then easily and without the use of tools moved into any of several raised positions affording greater dispersal of illumination and case of installation of certain components of the machine.

Other facets of this invention involve the use of a highly satisfactory height adjustment means, and a permanently installed power takeoff fitting that enables the wheeled motor portion of the device to serve as an easily transportable and highly satisfactory power unit for operating any of a number of sanding, polishing or cutting type devices. It is significant to note that in such instance, power is taken directly from the motor shaft through an appropriate reduction gearing without any driving belt being involved, which of course is prone to slip and overheat. Further features include a control arrangement allowing for an infinite control over the speed of the motor, and a baffle arrangement for markedly decreasing the noise emanating from the motor.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner for receiving and accumulating dirt, from which receptacle the dirt can be easily emptied under the influence of gravity.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner, equipped with an advantageously configured bottom wall and spring biased door arrangement, such that an opening of-the door on selected occasions brings about a prompt emptying of the dirt from the receptacle.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be more apparent from a study of the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our vacuum cleaner, with a portion of the handle removed;

FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of the wheeled motor unit, revealing certain details of various components;

FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view from the opposite side of the machine, revealing certain details of the dust receptacle;

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view generally along the lines of FIG. 2, but drawn'to a larger scale so as to reveal details of the headlamp, and with certain portions of the nozzle unit removed to reveal how the nozzle unit is retained in proper position by means of an elastomeric ring;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary view of the spring used with the headlamp;

FIG. 5 is also generally along the lines of FIG. 2 but representing a number of vital cross-sectional details associated with the brush drive, and the release mechanism for the front portion of the machine;

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary view of the elastomeric ring in cross section;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the foot-operated lever arrangement utilized for releasing the front portion of the machine;

FIG. 6A is a fragmentary showing of a typical wedge and recess;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side-elevational view revealing the dust receptacle as well as the elastomeric ring utilized for its retention;

FIG. 8 through 12 depict other details of the dust receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1

It will be noted from this over-all perspective view that we have provided a vacuum cleaner having a wheeled motor portion or power unit 11, a removable rug nozzle assembly or head unit 12, a bag 13, and a handle 14. The mid-portion of the handle 14 is not shown in this figure. The handle is movable with respect to its mounting as will appear in connection with FIGS. 13 and 14 discussed hereinafter, and a pair of slots 15, one of which is visible in FIG. I, prevent interference with motion of the handle to a variety of positions. As will be explained in connection with FIGS. 13 and 14, the handle can be removed from its mounting by a certain forward motion, and it is not necessary for the operator to remove any pins, screws or the like in order to separate the handle from the wheeled motor unit when such is desired.

The headlight unit 16 visible in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIG. 4 may be utilized in the position shown in FIG. 1, or as may be noted from FIG. 4, may be easily tilted upwardly to a position of greater illumination without any tools being involved. Significantly, the headlight remains in the elevated position automatically, or at the whim of the operator can be easily returned to the lowered position.

Also visible in FIG. 1 are the extra-wide front wheels 17, the variously movable tail wheel 18, the power takeoff 19, the separation leverl 20, and the height adjustment device 21. The separation lever is utilized in the removal of the nozzle unit 12, which unit is normally maintained in the position shown by means of a novel resilient ring in accordance with this invention. When removal of the nozzle unit is desired, such can be accomplished easily by the lever 20, without the manipulation of a belt lifter being involved.

FIGS. 2 and 3 Turning to FIG. 2 it will be noted from this side view that the nozzle or head unit 12 is disposed in operative position with respect to the wheeled motor unit 11, so that an effective vacuum cleaning operation can be carried on with respect to the carpet, rug or floor upon which the machine may be residing. The wheels 17 are mounted upon an axle 60 of somewhat of a modified U-shaped configuration that extends from one side of the machine to the other, with a height adjustment device 21 being provided so that the height of the nozzle above the floor or rug can be altered by rotating the rod 60 with respect to unit 11. The height adjustment means is revealed in greater detail in FIG. 16, and the power takeoff unit 19 is visible in greater detail in FIG. 17. Carrying handle 22 simplifies the transport of the motor unit 11 when used without the long handle 14.

FIG. 3 is a view taken of the opposite side of our novel vacuum cleaner, with the dirt receptacle 23 being disposed in operative position on the wheeled motor unit. The contents of the unit 23 may be emptied in a highly advantageous manner in accordance with this invention by virtue of the placement of the hingedlyattached door 24 on the side of the receptacle 23. In order to dump the contents of the receptacle it is only necessary to place the machine upon a newspaper or the like, open the door 24 for a briefinterval by the toe, and then reclose same. The receptacle 23, like the nozzle unit 12, is preferably held in place by a novel resilient ring, and this unit can be easily removed, when such becomes desirable, by a simple twisting motion. Pertinent details will be set forth hereinafter.

FIGS. 4 and 5 By means of the broken away portions of FIG. 4 we have illlustrated the significant details of the variously movable headlight unit 16, the coupling 38 between the drive shaft on the motor and the rotary brush disposed in the lower portion in the bottom of the nozzle unit 12, and the use of a novel, specially-contoured elastomeric (resilient) ring 27 for holding the nozzle unit in place on the inlet pipe 26 of the motor unit.

The headlight unit 16 is principally constituted by a curved shell portion 35 supported by a spring 31, which spring is shown in detail in FIG. 4A. The spring may be mounted by a pair of screws 32 on a protruding shoulder or ledge 33 disposed near the upper portion of the wheeled motor unit. Disposed in a pair of loops at the upper portion of the spring is a shaft 34, upon the ends of which the curved shell portion 35 of the headlamp is mounted. A transparent or translucent lens portion 53 is utilized so that even when the member 35 is in the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, ample illumination is provided. However, when the curved portion 35 is raised, light from the incandescent bulb (not shown) is also manifested from the bottom of this member, thus providing greater illumination. Furthermore, when the member is in the raised position, greater access to the front of the machine is made possible, thus simplifying the removal of nozzle 12 or the substitution of a different component or accessory.

Because of the manner in which the spring 31 is configured, it normally serves to bias the curved shell portion of the headlight rearwardly, even when the user lifts it to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4. The upper rear portion of the headlight shell comes to a fairly sharp edge 36, and as may be noted from FIG. 4, this edge may be disposed or placed in any one of several grooves or notches 37 that are disposed in the upper forward portion of the wheeled motor unit. At such time the headlight shell is stably maintained in the selected notch without danger of it falling to the closed position. When manipulating the headlight shell to new positions, the user in effect is overcoming the spring slightly so as to allow the headlight shell to move slightly forward so as to allow the rear portion of the shell to enter the desired notch. Only the base 50 of the bulb utilized for providing illumination is depicted in this Figure, and it is mounted by a bracket 52 on the underside of the headlight shell so as to be movable therewith. A suitable pair of electric wires connected to the source of electric power may carry the current used by the bulb.

The coupling 38 shown in this Figure and in the separated condition in FIG. 5 is utilized in the drive train between motor and rotary brush so that the nozzle unit can be removed easily when such is desired. Our novel design makes it only necessary to momentarily overcome the outward force of the elastomeric ring 27 in order that the nozzle unit can be separated, thus making entirely unnecessary the use of belt lifters or the like in order that such separation can be brought about.

Referring to FIG. 5 it will be noted that the forward end of the fan member 44 is equipped with a square end 39 (or end of other appropriate configuration), which fits easily but without slippage in the female portion of the coupling. As will also be noted in FIG. 5, the elastomeric ring 27 normally extends somewhat above the otherwise cylindrical contour of the inlet pipe 26, and in the direction shown in this figure. An inner assembly 40 is fastened in the upper interior portion of the nozzle unit 12 by screws or the like (not shown), with a ring shaped portion 41 of this inner assembly having a hole just slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipe 26, so that it can easily encircle same. A shoulder 42 is provided around the interior of this hole, which shoulder is designed to substantially coincide with the position of the outermost edge of the elastomeric ring when the nozzle assembly has been installed upon the flange; note FIG. 4. Because of the angularity of the ring 27 and the fact that it extends about the pipe 26 for a full 360, it not only provides an excellent mechanical means for holding the nozzle unit in position, but also it forms a very effective seal serving to prevent the entrance of air into the fan blade except through the lower portion of the nozzle unit, adjacent the rotary brush 43. Removal of the nozzle unit from the pipe 26 is discussed in connection with FIG. 6.

Referring to the drive means of FIG. 5, it will be noted that the shaft 45 upon which the female portion of the coupling is mounted is rotatably disposed in appropriate bearing material 46 that is in turn supported by a type of spider arrangement involving one or more legs 47 that form an integral part of the inner assembly 40. Spaced from the forward end of the shaft 45 may be a worm 48 that is arranged to mesh with a worm gear 49 that is transversely mounted in the inner assembly with respect to the shaft 45.

A portion of the worm gear 49 is configured to receive a belt, and passing around such portion as well as around the mid portion of rotary brush 43 is a continuous belt 51, which preferably is equipped with a large number of teeth on its inner surface. The belt-receiving portion of the rotary brush as well as the belt-receiving portion of the worm gear are fitted with a number of notches dimensioned to receive the teeth of the belt, thus assuring that no slippage can occur and therefore making possible the use of stiffer bristles 52 on the brush 43 than would otherwise be possible.

FIG. 6

This perspective view shows in some detail the resilient, elastomeric ring 27 mounted on the pipe 26, which ring is configured so as to hold an encircling member in the desired position. Such encircling member can be the upper portion of a rug nozzle or floor polisher unit, or one end of a flexible hose for example. Because of the job the ring 27 must perform, it is necessarily of a particular configuration and of a rather firm and resilient texture. We prefer to make the ring of polyurethane.

Because of the direction in which the ring is angled, it is a comparatively simple matter as best seen in FIG. 5 to push the ring-shaped encircling member 411 of the interior of the nozzle unit onto the pipe 26 to a preestablished extent, thereby enabling the ring 27 to reside against the shoulder 42 and thus to firmly inhibit the nozzle unit from displacement in the opposite direc tion; see FIG. 5A.

However, there are occasions that the user will wish to bring about a separation of the nozzle unit from the motor unit and to that end we provide a separation lever 20, which is pictured in some detail in FIG. 6. The center hole in this lever is of a size that tits easily over flange or pipe 26, with two or so screws 55 holding the lever against displacement, but arranged to allow rotative movement of the lever to the extent permitted by the slots 56. A plurality of wedges 57 are disposed at spaced locations around the circular or ring portion 58 of the lever 20, which wedges normally fit into complementary slots 59 shown in FIG. 5 provided at spaced locations around the upper portion of the nozzle means; see also FIG. 6A. A compression spring (not shown) is embedded in the fan case below the ejection ring, which serves to return the eject petal 20 back to its original position when the users foot is removed.

When the operator desires to cause the separation of the nozzle portion from the wheeled motor unit, he or she steps upon the lever 20 so as to move it downwardly from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. This causes a wedging action of the type shown in simplified FIG. 6A, with the several wedges in effect moving up the angled portions of the recesses and together contributing a balanced force serving to move the nozzle unit to the left as viewed in FIG. 4. Because the shoulder member 42 as shown in FIG. SA has a suitably angled surface, the rather considerable force contributed by the wedging action causes a temporary radially inward compression of the elastomeric'ring 27, thus allowing the nozzle unit to be removed.

It should be noted in FIG. 6 that a small projecting pin 63 is provided, over which a small female projection on the nozzle unit fits when these components have been secured together as in FIG. 4. This pin effectively prevents any undesirable rotation of the nozzle unit when the operator steps on lever 20.

The Dirt Receptacle Turning now to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the dirt receptacle 23 is equipped with a mounting means in the form of a tubular member 61 configured to encircle and fit upon the outlet pipe 66 of the wheeled motor unit. The outlet pipe can be in the form of a tubular member, around the periphery of which is disposed an elastomeric ring 67 that closely resembles ring 27 of FIG. 5. Both of these rings are of course configured to permit an encircling member to be installed on the respective pipes, but to thereafter inhibit the removal of same. A shoulder 62 is disposed around the interior of the encircling tubular member 61, with the ring 67 being so placed that when the members 61 and 66 are interfitted to the predetermined extent shown in FIG. 3, the ring 67 rests against shoulder 62 and resists separation of the members.

No counterpart of separation lever 20 is utilized with this embodiment, although wedges 77 and recesses 79 are utilized on members 66 and 61 respectively. Normally each wedge 77 resides in its respective recess, but when the operator wishes to remove the receptacle 23, he or she grasps the lower portion thereof, and twists it with respect to member 66, thus causing in effect the wedges 77 to move up the angled portions of the recesses 79, and force the member 61 away from the motor unit, and thus overcome the effect of the ring 67. Thereafter, reinstallation of the dirt receptacle or a flexible hose for example is but a simple matter, for the angularity of ring 67 as previously mentioned, is such that it does not impede movement of the encircling member in the installation direction.

Disposed above the receptacle 23 is bag 13, which is emptied through door 24 provided in the receptacle 23 to make unnecessary the removal of the receptacle for the purpose of emptying same. The door 24 is equipped at its upper portion with a pair of hinges 78 enabling it to open at the bottom as shown in FIG. 8 so that dirt or other debris which has been picked up in the vacuum cleaner can easily fall upon a newspaper or other collection device placed beneath the machine. Because of the angularity possessed by the bottom portion of the dirt receptacle, as indicated in both FIGS. 8 and 9, the waste tends to fall out of the receptacle easily, without it being necessary for the operator to dig it out.

As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a latch means in the form of a toe-operated spring biased device 64 is mounted on the lower portion of the receptacle 23, and secured in place by rivets or the like. The active portion of the latch means can be moved from the latching po sition shown in full lines in FIG. 9 to the dotted line position at the behest of the operator, thus allowing the door automatically to fly open under the influence of one or more springs 65 associated with the hinges; see FIGS. 10 and 11. Preferably the door is spring biased to the 180 position depicted in phantom lines in FIG. 9, thus assuring that it will be out of the way during the emptying process. As will be noted in the same figure, the outer portion of the latch 64 has a rounded contour so that upon the operator again closing the door, relatching is automatic. A recess 64a at the bottom front of the door facilitates secure latching.

It should be noted that the door 24 is preferably disposed at an angle to the vertical as shown in FIG. 9, say 15, and that the bottom member of the dirt receptacle is also angled, with these two members together defining a modified V-shaped configuration. As will be obvious, this insures that the dirt will find its way to the bottommost portion of the device, and that such dirt will automatically fall out when the door is opened. To insure against undesirable leakage, we prefer to use a gasket around the four sides of the main aperture in the dirt receptacle, which gasket is retained in place by being disposed upon a raised portion that extends around the four sides of the aperture; note FIGS. 8, 9 and 11. The peripheral portion of the door 24 is of a flat, rectangular contour designed to fit snugly against the gasket when the latching means is in its latching position. However, the middle portion of the door is recessed, with the raised portion 75 extending somewhat into such recess as shown in FIG. 9, thus further assuring against leakage.

We claim:

1. A dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner, from which receptacle, dirt and refuse can be rapidly and automatically emptied merely by the application of toe pressure, said receptacle comprising a housing, said housing having means defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having inlet means through which dirt can enter, said lower portion having a bottom wall inclined with respect to the vertical and defining an outlet at its lowermost portion, downwardly through which outlet, dirt accumulating on said inclined bottom wall would normally tend to fall under the influence of gravity, a door hingedly supported at its upper edge from said upper portion of said housing and being spring biased upwardly, said door being movable against said spring bias into a generally downwardly disposed position in which it forms a closure for said outlet, said door when in the outlet-closing posi tion, being disposed at an angle to the vertical, but on a different side of the vertical than said inclined bottom wall, thus forming with said inclined bottom wall, an essentially V-shaped configuration in the downwardly directed apex of which, dirt entering said inlet means can accumulate, and latch means mounted adjacent said outlet and serving to engage the bottom of said hinged door so as to releasably hold said door in the outlet-closing position, said latch means having an extending surface able to be contacted by the toe of the user when actuation of said latch means to bring about release of said door is desired, whereby upon said extending portion of said latch being contacted and said latch actuated to release said door, said door is caused by said spring bias to swing upwardly into an out-ofthe-way position, thus allowing the dirt and refuse disposed on said bottom wall and against said door to empty under the influence of gravity.

2. The dirt receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which said latch is a spring latch, with at least a portion of said extending surface being disposed so as to be contacted by said door upon said door being moved to its closed position, said latch having a first position in which it holds said door in the closed position, and a second position in which it permits said door to pass by, whereby upon said door being moved downwardly by a force sufficient to overcome said spring bias, its lower edge contacts said extending surface, causing said latch to move into its second position to allow said door to move by and into its closed position, said latch thereupon returning to its first position to hold said door closed.

3. A dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner, from which receptacle, dirt and refuse can be rapidly and automatically emptied merely by the application of toe pressure, said receptacle comprising a housing, said housing having means defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having inlet means through which dirt can enter, said lower portion having a bottom wall inclined with respect to the vertical and defining a somewhat downwardly directed outlet at its lowermost portion, through which outlet, dirt accumulating on said inclined bottom wall would normally tend to fall under the influence of gravity, a door hingedly supported at its upper edge from said upper portion of said housing, said door being movable between a lower position in which it occludes said outlet, and an upper position in which it is in an out-of-the-way position allowing dirt to fall free of said outlet, means normally biasing said door to its upper position, said door, in being moved to its lower, outlet-closing position, swinging past the vertical, and into a relationship with said outlet such that the interior side of said door, and said bottom wall of said lower portion form an essentially V-shaped configuration, in the lowest portion of which,

dirt entering said inlet can accumulate, and latch means mounted adjacent said outlet and serving to engage the bottom of said hinged door so as to releasably hold said door in the outlet-closing position, said latch means having an extending surface able to be contacted by the toe of the user when actuation of said latch means to bring about release of said door is desired, whereby upon said extending portion of said latch being contacted and said latch actuated to release said door, said door is caused by said spring bias to swing upwardly into its out-of-the-way position, thus allowing the dirt and refuse disposed on said bottom wall and against said door to empty under the influence of gravity.

4. The dirt receptacle as defined in claim 3 in which said latch is a spring latch, with at least a portion of said extending surface being disposed so as to be contacted by said door upon said door being moved to its closed position, said latch having a first position in which it holds said door in the closed position, and a second position in which it permits said door to pass by, whereby upon said door being moved downwardly by a force sufficient to overcome said spring bias, its lower edge contacts said extending surface, causing said latch to move into its second position to allow said door to move by and into its closed position, said latch thereupon returning to its first position to hold said door closed. 

1. A dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner, from which receptacle, dirt and refuse can be rapidly and automatically emptied merely by the application of toe pressure, said receptacle comprising a housing, said housing having means defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having inlet means through which dirt can enter, said lower portion having a bottom wall inclined with respect to the vertical and defining an outlet at its lowermost portion, downwardly through which outlet, dirt accumulating on said inclined bottom wall would normally tend to fall under the influence of gravity, a door hingedly supported at its upper edge from said upper portion of said housing and being spring biased upwardly, said door being movable against said spring bias into a generally downwardly disposed position in which it forms a closure for said outlet, said door when in the outlet-closing position, being disposed at an angle to the vertical, but on a different side of The vertical than said inclined bottom wall, thus forming with said inclined bottom wall, an essentially V-shaped configuration in the downwardly-directed apex of which, dirt entering said inlet means can accumulate, and latch means mounted adjacent said outlet and serving to engage the bottom of said hinged door so as to releasably hold said door in the outlet-closing position, said latch means having an extending surface able to be contacted by the toe of the user when actuation of said latch means to bring about release of said door is desired, whereby upon said extending portion of said latch being contacted and said latch actuated to release said door, said door is caused by said spring bias to swing upwardly into an out-of-the-way position, thus allowing the dirt and refuse disposed on said bottom wall and against said door to empty under the influence of gravity.
 2. The dirt receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which said latch is a spring latch, with at least a portion of said extending surface being disposed so as to be contacted by said door upon said door being moved to its closed position, said latch having a first position in which it holds said door in the closed position, and a second position in which it permits said door to pass by, whereby upon said door being moved downwardly by a force sufficient to overcome said spring bias, its lower edge contacts said extending surface, causing said latch to move into its second position to allow said door to move by and into its closed position, said latch thereupon returning to its first position to hold said door closed.
 3. A dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner, from which receptacle, dirt and refuse can be rapidly and automatically emptied merely by the application of toe pressure, said receptacle comprising a housing, said housing having means defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having inlet means through which dirt can enter, said lower portion having a bottom wall inclined with respect to the vertical and defining a somewhat downwardly directed outlet at its lowermost portion, through which outlet, dirt accumulating on said inclined bottom wall would normally tend to fall under the influence of gravity, a door hingedly supported at its upper edge from said upper portion of said housing, said door being movable between a lower position in which it occludes said outlet, and an upper position in which it is in an out-of-the-way position allowing dirt to fall free of said outlet, means normally biasing said door to its upper position, said door, in being moved to its lower, outlet-closing position, swinging past the vertical, and into a relationship with said outlet such that the interior side of said door, and said bottom wall of said lower portion form an essentially V-shaped configuration, in the lowest portion of which, dirt entering said inlet can accumulate, and latch means mounted adjacent said outlet and serving to engage the bottom of said hinged door so as to releasably hold said door in the outlet-closing position, said latch means having an extending surface able to be contacted by the toe of the user when actuation of said latch means to bring about release of said door is desired, whereby upon said extending portion of said latch being contacted and said latch actuated to release said door, said door is caused by said spring bias to swing upwardly into its out-of-the-way position, thus allowing the dirt and refuse disposed on said bottom wall and against said door to empty under the influence of gravity.
 4. The dirt receptacle as defined in claim 3 in which said latch is a spring latch, with at least a portion of said extending surface being disposed so as to be contacted by said door upon said door being moved to its closed position, said latch having a first position in which it holds said door in the closed position, and a second position in which it permits said door to pass by, whereby upon said door being moved downwardly by a force sufficient to overcomE said spring bias, its lower edge contacts said extending surface, causing said latch to move into its second position to allow said door to move by and into its closed position, said latch thereupon returning to its first position to hold said door closed. 